Security News > 2020 > April > COVID-19 contact tracing: The tricky balance between privacy and relief efforts
As more governments consider the use of contact tracing apps to prevent the spread of coronavirus, researchers say privacy will have to be at the forefront of efforts in order for civilians to use it.
Rachael Falk, CEO of the Cyber Security Cooperative Research Centre, said with a serious public health crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic, digital contact tracing is helpful as positive cases need to be identified quickly, and particularly if the patients involved are unable to communicate with those who they come into contact with.
Apple and Google's iteration of contact tracing entails creating application program interfaces that would help public health authorities design apps with contact tracing capabilities.
Falk, who is currently reviewing Australia's COVID-19 tracing app alongside the Digital Transformation Agency, backed the government's comments that Australia's iteration of contact tracing would be reasonably secure and private.
With governments, such as Australia, already set on implementing contact tracing, Dr Mahmoud Elkhodr at Central Queensland University noted that while there will never be a "Perfect solution" for privacy, there are various mechanisms that could be applied to improve the balance between privacy concerns and the public benefit.